Corset-stay.



H. M. MOGORMIGK. CORSET STAY. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1903.-

Patented 0012411911.

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UNITED @TATEfi PATENT @FFIQE.

HUGH MALCOLM MCCORMICK, OF ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN, ASSIG'NOR TO AMERICAN CORSET STAY COMPANY, OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA TERRITORYT.

CORSET-STAY.

i posses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

Application filed September 26, 1908. Serial No. 454,859.

T u all whom it may 0071 cam:

Be it known that I, I-IUoI-r MALCOLM Mo- CORMICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at the village of Royal Oak, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Corset-Stay, of which the following is a specification.

In my prior Patent No. 869,797, dated October 29, 1907, I describe a stay intended to support the lower abdominal region particularly, which derived said support from fulcrumic wings resting upon the wearers back, preferably extending both above and below the waist-line. My present invention is the same in principle, that is, primarily intended to support the lower abdomen by means of a stay ascending from its point of application on the lower abdomen toward the waist-line at such an angle as to avoid a horizontal draw upon the abdomen across the hips. In order to achieve the best result it is absolutely necessary that the stay act upon the lower abdomen independently of the corset, and it is very desirable to have the stay made of flexible material (such as cloth), and to have it, as far as possible, actually built into the corset, forming, with the corset, an integral and indivisible garment. To best accomplish its purpose, the actuating front of the stay must lie under the corset and be independent of any adjustment made in the front of the corset itself.

My present improvement accomplishes the results obtained with my original invention in a superior and more complete manner, and, in addition, is cheaper to make, more readily incorporated as a part of the corset, capable of greater adjustment, more comfortable and produces superior results in obtaining and retaining a good figure.

I attain these objects by the means and methods illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 illustrates the front view of the corset with stay in place as when closed. (One side of the corset is represented as cut away, showing stay underneath.) Fig. 2 illustrates the back View of a corset showing stay built into it, and usual corset bones or stays crossing stay. Fig. 3 illustrates one shape of a stay. This shape will necessarily vary very greatly in different shapes and sizes of corsets, having, however, the same ends in View.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The basic idea underlying my original corset stay, and the idea herein described, is a draw or pull upon the lower abdominal region of such a character that the lower abdomen is pressed obliquely in and up from the thighs and directly upward from the pubic-arch, constituting a continuous sup port to that region. My endeavor has constantly been toward a combination of stay and corset designed to afford the maximum abdominal support with the maximum beauty of contour or figure, and this is best accomplished by uniting the stay A and corset B (excepting stay-front C into one integral, indivisible and harmoniously cooperating combination. That is to say, the front or lower end portion C is free of attachment or securement to, or union with, the corset, the remainder of the stay being united, connected, or attached to, and built into, the corset in any suitable manner. By properly situating the stay A in the corset B, as shown in the drawing, I have obtained sufficient support without undue pressure at any point, to eliminate, either partially or entirely, the use of fulcrumic wings in the back. In their stead I employ the back of the corset itself. When properly combined, the stay and the corset act both independently and interdependingly in supporting the abdomen and producing a good figure.

As shown in the drawing each stay is disposed in an inclined or oblique position, substantially intersecting the waist-line at the sides, above the hips. The upper part of the stay is built into or secured to the corset, and the lower part is broadened and free from the corset and is positioned so as to lie upon the lower part of the abdomen.

Along the end of the front O I find it advantageous to use a metal or other rigid stiffener D in order that the flexible stay C may not wrinkle under strain, but lie flat upon the abdomen. This may be perforated and eyeleted for lacing, E.

There can be great latitude in the method of building my stay into a corset, but it need not materially affect the disposition of the ordinary corset bones or stays F.

In putting the garment on, the wearer can lace the stays to the desired degree of tension to support the abdomen, and, after fastening and tightening her corset in any usual way, she can, if she wants more staytension, lace the stays tighter at will.

The distinctive and essential difference between the operation of my stay and of the many devices such as trusses, abdominal belts, abdominally-reducing corsets, etc. is that my stay operates automatic-ally to draw the abdomen both up and back without con straining the hips or buttocks, obtaining for the organs situated in the pelvic cavity a direct and continuous support.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a corset of a pair of similar longitudinally-inelastic corset stays disposed in an inclined position one on each side inside the corset and approximately intersecting the waist-line at the sides, above the hips, said stays converging downward toward each other, the upper portion of each stay being secured to the corset and the lower portion being broadened and free from the corset, said broadened portions also being stiffened, and means for separably uniting said free portions together along their end edges, said lower broadened free portions being adapted when so united to afford firm continuous support to the lower abdomen and to exert an upward oblique lift thereon directed above the hips.

2. In combination with a corset, two corset stays having lower, front, stiflened, abdomen supporting, portions disposed beneath the lower front corner portions of the corset and thence extending diagonally upward and rearward approximately intersecting the waist-line at the sides, said stays having means whereby the front edges of said stiffened abdomen supporting portions may be laced together, said front edges diverging downward so that when laced together said portions closely and evenly follow and compress the downward receding, diminishing abdominal curve, facilitating an equal upward and backward oblique lift of the abdominal contents.

3. In combination with a corset, two corset stays havingvlower, front, stiffened, abdomen supporting, portions disposed beneath and free from the lower front corner portions of the corset and thence extending diagonally upward and rearward approximately intersecting the waist-line at the sides and secured to the corset at their upper parts, said stays having means whereby the front edges of said stiffened abdomen supporting portions may be laced together and operating to support the abdominal contents by an upward and backward oblique lift directed above the hips.

, HUGH MALCOLM MCCORMICK.

Witnesses:

MAUDE F. EBLING, VALLIE EBLING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

